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Beau looked up at the sound of the car starting, relief washing over his features when he saw her still standing there. He turned his attention back to the Realtor, holding out his hand to her. A few more words were spoken before Ms. Rawlings walked back down the sidewalk, barely sparing a glance at Evangeline.
"You're still here," Beau said as she climbed the stairs up to the porch.
"Did you think I would run off?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes downcast. "Would you hate me if I said yes?"
Ouch.
"Why did you come here?" he asked softly, tucking some of the stray hairs that had come loose from her ponytail behind her ear. He trailed his fingers down the side of her neck before resting them on the curve of her shoulder. His touch felt so right, and she found herself slipping into the past. Life had been so simple then. It was her and Beau against the world. He was her constant, her guiding light...
"I wanted to see you," she replied, deciding on honesty rather than bravado; she was so tired of being angry.
His brows rose, a small smile playing on his lips. "You did?"
She knew there was a scowl on her face when she groused, "Don't get cocky about it." She peered around the neighborhood. It really was like stepping back in time. Nearly nothing had changed. She'd spent every holiday here with Beau when they were dating in college because she didn’t have any family to go home to.
"It looks the same, huh?" he said, seemingly reading her mind.
"Yeah," she replied wistfully. "It's like nothing has changed at all."
"Hey, do you have to leave right away?"
She narrowed her eyes, slipping back into defaultbitchmode. "Why?"
The grin he gave her made her breath catch. "Feel like a trip down memory lane?"
"I don't follow."
He took her hand, hauling her to his car parked beside the house. "Come on. I'll take you back to John's place for a shower then we'll go out to dinner."
16
Beau couldn't helpbut glance over at Evangeline every few seconds. She'd come to see him, and more than anything, that gave him hope. Now all he had to do was make her see that her stupid no-strings-sex rule wasn't for them. Heknewthey could get back to what they were before; she just had to trust herself a little more.
He pulled up to John's apartment and shut off the engine. Vee was peering up at the imposing high-rise that seemed out of place now but wouldn't be once the rest of the area was developed.
"Do you live with John now?" she asked.
"Yeah. I've been staying here since..."
She reached over and touched his hand. "It looks nice."
"It is," he replied, clearing his throat. "I'm hoping to get a place of my own as soon as the sale of my mom's house goes through."
"Will you be staying in San Diego?"
He stared at her intently. "I'm not sure anymore."
He could've sworn a blush crept up her cheeks. "You said we could get cleaned up?"
"Yeah. Let's shower and then go get something to eat." He opened his door. "We can head over to Cherry's."
"That place is still open?" she asked, stepping from the car and walking around the front to meet him.
He nodded. "They still make the best apple pie."
Vee threw her head back and laughed. "You were always a sucker for apple pie."
